A cleaner was told not to make the bed in the home of children's author Helen Bailey days after her husband had allegedly murdered her, a court has heard.

Ian Stewart, 56, is accused of killing his wife Helen Bailey, 51, and hiding her body, along with that of her Dachsund Boris, in a subterranean cesspit at the house the two of them shared in Baldock Road in Royston.

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Stewart appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday (February 1). He denies the charges.

The court heard that Stewart seemed "unemotional" in the days after Helen's disappearance and that, when a cleaner had come to tidy up their Royston home, Stewart had told her not to change the sheets on the bed.

"The cleaner also told the court there were piles of Helen's clothes on top of the washing basket and waste paper bins were full, which was odd because Helen always emptied the bins and never left clothes out.

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Addressing the court, Vania Pedrosa, the cleaner, said: “He told me not to change the bedding because he had already done that. Mrs Helen’s clothing [was upstairs on wash basket] some of her clothes like t-shirt, trousers all on top of the basket.

“There was never any clothes on top of the basket. She would put it in the basket. Mr Ian had made the bed. I don’t know whether it was freshly done but it had been done."

A text message that Stewart sent to Ms Pedrosa was also read out to the court. It read: “Hi this is Ian from Baldock Road. Are you coming today? Ok if you are not coming Helen is away. That is why I am contacting you.”

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Vania also said a light green bed spread that had always been on the couple's bed was missing. She said she continued to work at the house until recently and the bed spread had never reappeared.

Julie Phipps, team leader social worker, told the court Stewart showed no signs of being distressed about Helen being missing.

She said: “He came across with no evidence of anxiety or depression. He gave no indication on an emotional level of distress about Helen being missing. There was just nothing at all.”

The court also heard from Stewart's friend of 20 years, Christopher Priest. Mr Priest said it was not in Stewarts nature to hurt anyone. Stewart claims two men called Joe and Nick were behind Helen's disappearance. Mr Priest says these two names were never mentioned to him.